The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth.

 The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Useful vocabulary for the task:

1. Hydrological/Water Cycle - the natural process of water transfer from oceans to the atmosphere and then to the land.

2. Principal Stages - primary steps in the water cycle.

3. Transformation - change in the state of water from ocean water to vapors and then rainwater.

4. Overwhelming Proportion - a large percentage of water vapor in the atmosphere originates from the oceans.

5. Solar Radiation - energy from the sun that prompts the evaporation of ocean water.

6. Condenses - water vapor changes into water droplets and forms clouds.

7. Precipitation Stage - where the water droplets in clouds become heavy enough to fall as rain or snow.

8. Replenish - to refill or restore.

9. Surface Runoff - the movement of rainwater over the land surface, eventually returning to the ocean.

10. Infiltrate - to permeate or penetrate.

11. Impervious Layer - a layer of the earth's surface that is impermeable to water.

12. Saltwater Intrusion - where seawater infiltrates into freshwater sources.

13. Water Table - the underground layer of water.

14. Completing the Cycle - when groundwater returns to the ocean, finishing the water cycle.

Band 9 Sample answer:

The illustration depicts the natural water cycle, which outlines the process of how water travels from the ocean to the atmosphere, and then to the land, before returning to the ocean.

Overall, the diagram features three primary stages: ocean water evaporates, falls as rain, and eventually runs back into the oceans again.

Firstly, ocean water evaporates, creating water vapour that rises into the atmosphere. This stage is initiated by the sun's heat, and the majority of the water vapour in the air comes from the oceans. As the water vapour reaches higher, colder altitudes, it condenses to form clouds. The next stage, precipitation, is where the water droplets in clouds become heavy enough to fall as rain or snow.

During the following stage, the rainwater takes various paths. It either falls directly into lakes or rivers, or returns to the ocean through surface runoff. Alternatively, it infiltrates the ground and may pass through permeable soil to reach the water table. The diagram also depicts saltwater intrusion, where seawater infiltrates into freshwater sources. Finally, the groundwater returns to the ocean, thus completing the cycle.

Band 8.5 Sample answer:

The provided illustration elucidates the natural process known as the hydrological or water cycle, which portrays the transfer of water from oceans to the atmosphere and then to the land.

Overall, the diagram exhibits three principal stages that encompass the transformation of ocean water into vapors, which precipitate as rain or snow, and ultimately run back into the oceans to complete the cycle.

Commencing with the primary stage, it can be deduced that an overwhelming proportion of water vapor in the atmosphere originates from the oceans. Whilst solar radiation prompts the evaporation of ocean water, the vapor condenses to form clouds, initiating the precipitation stage. In this stage, water droplets fall from clouds in the form of rain or snow.

In the subsequent phase, rainwater could follow various paths. A fraction of it may replenish lakes or return to oceans through surface runoff. Otherwise, it may infiltrate through the ground, reaching the impervious layer of the earth. Just before groundwater flows into the oceans, the process of saltwater intrusion is depicted in the diagram to complete the cycle.